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New Colts coordinator will seek a balanced offense

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton talked to the media on Wednesday, sharing some of his views of the road ahead.

Some excerpts of his news conference:

Some general thoughts on the offense:

I think it's important we have balance in our offense. We're not just a one-dimensional football team. We want to create conflict for our opponents. We want to have the ability to not only push the ball downfield and hit the big play in the passing game, but we've got to be able to run the football. …We'll do a great job of mixing in some power runs, mixing in some Wildcat plays, mix in some read-option, pistol-type schemes. Just really try and present once again a lot of conflicts for our opponents.

On how he plans to implement the West Coast offense:

We've got to do whatever it is our players do well. It's obvious, just based on production that we had in the passing game this past season, that we're a team that can push the ball downfield. That should create paranoia for our opponents. …(Andrew Luck) did a really good job of improvising, of managing broken plays and escaping the pocket and making an accurate throw on the move. That's a talent and a gift to use to our advantage.

Does everything start with protection?

Absolutely. It's protection-driven but it's not just pass protection in the sense of blocking their front seven when they're blitzing and rushing the quarterback. You're protecting the passing game by running the football and vice versa.

You've been with six NFL teams. Do you think that prepares you for this job?

I think it helps. I think I've paid my dues. I think I've benefited tremendously by having the opportunity to work with the Paul Hacketts and the Norv Turners and the Mike Heimerdingers of the world. It just really helped me to, in a sense, think outside the box. …Once again, I wouldn't pigeonhole us and say we're just a one-dimensional certain style of offense. I think the ability to present a lot of different looks and conflicts for the opponent is going to be big part of what we do.

On an advantage in taking over the Colts offense:

If we had to play a game today, the quarterback would know what to do. That kind of gives you a kind of peace of mind and ease, knowing that, hey, we'll get there and we'll get caught up, but he's not going to have to re-learn or start at Square One, as far as his abilty to go out and execute the offense.

On why he chose the Colts over possible college head coaching jobs:

The opportunity to win the championship of all championships and ultimately have a chance to work for a storied franchise like the Colts franchise and work for Mr. Irsay and Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano. I felt like it was an amazing opportunity. The NFL is all about the haves and the have nots. Either you have a franchise quarterback or you don't. I think we all feel good about the potential of the young quarterback that we have here.

On whether he needs different personnel for his scheme:

We have tough, smart offensive linemen. We have receivers that can win the one-on-one matchups. We have tight ends that are versatile. I'm a big fan of versatile tight ends and having those things in place. And we have a good runner. We have some good, young runners that can move the pile. I don't want to overstate the obvious – the quarterback. We have a guy in place that allows us to do whatever we see fit to get us a first down and get us some touchdowns. Just the acquisition of the personnel is not my jurisdiction. Mr. Grigson and Coach Pagano, they choose the pieces and I piece the puzzle together to score some touchdowns on game day.